ABSTRACT
John Bowlby wrote about the importance of a secure base as part of an attachment system that provides human beings with protection and comfort at times of actual or threatened danger, illness, or fatigue. He conceived of the secure base in the form of another human being, but it is also the case that comfort and a sense of safety can be derived from a familiar environment. The brief scenario just described reflects the experience of many refugees and asylum seekers who have been forcibly separated from not only their families and loved ones, but also their social networks. Government policy on immigration has contributed to elements of racism and nationalism within British culture. The interplay between “public opinion” and government policy contributes to a hostile social climate, which in turn shapes the way social institutions treat asylum seekers. Mourning losses can also include telling stories about life before the trauma of forced separation and torture.
